The Irish standard., 1887-12-31
n q s.
MALARI IA 8 AClLLlJS.
Successful Scientific Experiments Madeh
Famous Physician. .5s


q Famous Physician. js 4 5sss
Apaper of unusual interest in relae
tion to the question Of the agency Of
microphytes in the production Of dis
ease will shortly appear For many
years the efforts of pathologists have
been directed in this relation to tbs
subject Of malaria. The local condi.
tions which determine the endemic
prevalence of ague have been studied
with considerable exactitude. They
are such that indicate very clearly THAI
the material cause of intermittent ia.
yer, although it is generated in the soih
acts through the air. The fact that its
influence is restricted within very nare
row limits of distance from its source
indicates that it is not diffusible like 8
gas vapor, but consists Of particles
which, on various grounds, are snre
missed to be living organisms Of ex-
tre1ne minuteness. Can this be estah.
lished on evidence which will bear
oriticisnp
ALL will remember that in 1879 Tom~
masi Cr,,deli published Gn conjunction
with Prof. Klebs) observations whioh
tended to show that in malarious disc
tricts bacillus inhabits the soil which
can be cultivated SOFAS to yield q proA
duct capable, when iuoculated, of proa
ducing in animals a fever OF intermis.
tent type, accompanied BY the anatonl'
cal characteristics of malafious infeo"
tion. Subsequently, it WAS found by
several observers that. during the cold
stage OF ague, spore~contsining bacillis
conjectured to be Identical with
those of Crudeli, are 10 be found in tho
blood.
These results have been received by
pathologists with mucl, misgiyings
partly because the experimental proofs
appeared Inadequate, partly BECAUSE
other Observers failed in their eus
deayors to verify them. DIR. schiavuzzi,
a medical practitioner Of Pola, en tha
Adriatic. appears to have been more
Fortunate Following the methods "a
DIR. Koch, lie has sought for organisms
in the air of the malarious districts
near the town in which he resides, auA
peated observations, to obtain without
fail pure civilizations of bacillus
which is not only indistin guisha;le as
regards its structure from shat OF Cru"
deli, but also produces in animals the
characteristic symptoms and pat'lo.
logical changes which belong to agtsss
The first communication Of DIX. Sci1ias
yuzai's results wers made to the Aa
endemic dei Lincei more tiaan
year ago, but excited very liaSia
attention. IT SO happened thas
in the course OF the past summer proh
Coln visited Pols, ard so became &C.
quainted with Dr Schiavuz2i, wfaos
during the present year, has been pu1s
suing his Investigations. In consas
qnence, Prof. Cohn has been able ta
repeat the pola experiments in his OVEN
laboratory at Breslau, and, so fax aa
possible, to confirm the discovery. Tho
writer had the opportunity, shois
while ago. when Prof. Coiu was in
England, of reading the proofs oe
Schiavuzzi's paper, and of seeing the
very perfect photographs Of the l,aci1s
lus which have been made of il as
Breslat1-
Although it may be admitted thas
evidence of more conclusive kind
than any which has been offered by Drs
Schiav.lzzi is required to establish thA
truth Of his inference, yet there seems
to be good reason for thinking that a
has approached much nearer IL solutioa
of the question than any Of his predes
cessors. Mature.